Backlash halts removal of Confederate symbols in New Orleans

Probably about time someone hit back at Leftist oppression

Backlash against a plan to remove prominent Confederate monuments in New Orleans has been tinged by death threats, intimidation, and even what may have been the torching of a contractor’s Lamborghini.

For now, at least, things have gotten so nasty the city hasn’t found a contractor willing to bear the risk of tearing down the monuments.

The city doesn’t have its own equipment to move them and is now in talks to find a company, even discussing doing the work at night to avoid further tumult. Further complicating the issue was a court ruling Friday that effectively put the removal on hold.

Initially, it appeared the monuments would be removed quickly after the majority black City Council on Dec. 17 voted, 6-1, to approve the mayor’s plan to take them down. The monuments, including towering statues of generals Robert E. Lee and P.G.T. Beauregard, have long been viewed by many here as symbols of racism and white supremacy.

New Orleans is a majority African-American city although the number of black residents has fallen since 2005’s Hurricane Katrina drove away many people. Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who proposed the monuments’ removal, rode to victory twice with overwhelming support from the city’s black residents.

In New Orleans, things have turned particularly ugly.

In early January, as it beat back legal challenges seeking to stop the removal, the city hired a contractor to remove the monuments.

But H&O Investments LLC of Baton Rouge soon pulled out of the job, citing death threats, ‘‘unkindly name-calling,’’ outrage on social media, and the threat of other businesses canceling contracts.

One day, several protesters came while H&O workers took measurements. Some of the protesters wore materials ‘‘with affiliation to white supremacy groups,’’ said Roy Maughan Jr., a lawyer for the contractor.

That same day, Maughan said, ‘‘a specific articulated threat’’ was phoned into city authorities warning workers at the monuments to leave for their safety. On Jan. 12, H&O sent the city a letter saying it was dropping out. Then, on Jan. 19, a Lamborghini belonging to the owner of H&O Investments was set on fire. The sports car was parked outside his office near Baton Rouge, Maughan said.

The FBI and local fire investigators declined to comment. No arrests have been made.

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